The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-24
RshdoIph's ReDuke of Imptety


RshdoIph's ReDuke of Impiety.
John r Rsndoph, Randolph of Roanoke
as he called himself, aud liked to be called
was early impressed with religious truth by
a faithful Christian mother, of whom he
himself tells, "that at one time he might
have become French inf lei but for the
memory of bis mothers hand upon his heaI
as he knet at her sds to repsat after he
the Lords Prayer" He was always out
spoken in favor of RELIGION, uud especially
toward the later years of his life, as illustra
tions Of which the following among other
anecdotes, are relat d:
One day he was at dinner party in yir.
ginia; given to young army officer. The
latter, at the table, was giving glowing ac-
count Of the churches in Mexico, one of the.
finest of which he said had been turned into
barracks by the United States troops as they
entered Mexico under General Scott. When
one of the ladies present exclaimed, "Why
Captain, were yon not afraid to do it ?" the
reply of the young captain, in a somewhat
boastful If not saeerfns tone, was: "Oh, no
for my part have become so used to such
things that could take my dinner on the
altar itself as comfortable as anywhere
'Aad SC would hog, sif,'' said Randolph,
looking sharply at the officer, "while in the
silence that followed the terrible rebuke the
very air Of the room seemed 10 tingle, as the
nerves of the guests did" The officer felt
! rebuked and was silent, as well be might be.
Soon after RlndIlph's recovery from &C.
we're sickness in 1916, he was dining at the
house OF prominent politician with large
and mixed company. among them," 10
use his own words was a hoary headed de-
baunchee, whose vices had completely shat
tered bis constitution, and who days seemed
to be numbered. And YETI" said Randolph
'he had the audacity to call in question the
existence ofthe Diety, presumng, Isuppose,
that there were many kindred spirits there.
happened to sit directly opposite to him
and felt so disgustsd with his impiety that
could not help saying: Il think, sir, that
you might better have been silent on that
subject, for judging from appearances, YOU,
in short time, will have ocular proof of the
power of that God whose existence you now
boldly question. You can afford to wait, sir.
the few remaining days of your life, and in
common courtesy you should not shock the
feelings of others by the exhibition of your
blasphemyv He turned pale with anger,
adds Randolph, land even trembled; but
made no rel Under, and the company soon
seperatsd. We met more than once subse-
quently, but never afterward renewed our
acquaintance and whether his courage to
brave death continued or not, l do not
know"
The incident reminds one of Sicily,
4 the poet, who amid the glorious scenery of
g the Alps, and surrouudel there by the man
festations OF Gods power, had ths hardi-
hood to avuw and record his atheism by
' writing against his nam, in the registers xsl
d for travellers, "An Atheist" lother trav,
: eler who followed. shocked and Indignant al
the inscription, wrote beneath IT., 'If al
!. atheist, a fool; or if not then liarr'
a And so Gods Word declares, that cit is tn
l. fool who says in his heart, there is no God.
It He says it in his hea:t-that is, expresses hi
wish that there were no God, not in hi
head, in his sober judgment, for he know
a better; he knows there is God, and doubi
d less has many fear and foreboding whe
to thinking of the hour he must stand befor
~ Him in Judgment. We are told of Wilmo
,r the in6del, that when he was dying, he lai
as his trembling hand on the Bible, and sal
solemn'y, and with unwonted energy; ''Tt
OILY objection to this Book is bad life.
And if this be true Of the nfidsl who reject
revelation, much more is it Of the atheis
who denies the existence of God, the ey
dense of whose power and wisdom and q 70
"a ness is seen in al his works.-tRsv. Tys,
al Elwal DIS in N. Y. Observer.
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